Chapter 385: The Journey Just Begun

The volcanic eruption was, after all, artificially triggered and couldn’t sustain its fury indefinitely. After approximately ten minutes, the torrent of fire elements within the Sleeping Dragon Crater gradually subsided. Though copious amounts of magma continued to be spewed into the sky, compared to the cataclysmic force witnessed at the outset, the Sleeping Dragon Volcano had now grown considerably quieter.

As the volcano’s peak eruption slowly concluded, amidst the shattered crater now filled with spatial fragments and raging fire element currents, a deafening roar echoed. Suddenly, a massive claw riddled with fiery red cracks emerged from the thick volcanic ash. The sharp dragon claws were covered in fissures left by the erosion of fire elements, with large patches of scales burned away and peeled off. Yet, this colossal claw remained steadfast, gripping the Sleeping Dragon firmly. Even as spatial storms stripped away flesh around it piece by piece, neither the claw nor its owner showed the slightest tremor of pain.

Miraculously, Ovakain had survived such a terrifying catastrophe!

The soul-searing agony had not broken his will, nor had the all-consuming flames destroyed the black dragon’s body. Though gravely wounded, Ovakain had ultimately not been reduced to ashes in the volcanic eruption.

However… at this moment, the lucky surviving Ovakain felt no joy or relief. What filled his heart was nothing but endless pain and hatred!

As Ovakain, his pupils burning with fury, dispersed the smoke and dust, the first thing he perceived was a scene of utter despair.

The scorching ash from the volcanic eruption had completely permeated the entire Hoth Mountains. Thanks to the surrounding high peaks, these terrifying high temperatures had formed a dreadful furnace within the mountain range. Vast amounts of heat were trapped within the confined Hoth Mountains, and neither the Dragon Roar Kingdom nor the Maple Leaf Kingdom had escaped this burning apocalypse.

Under the blanket of high-temperature volcanic ash, the earth was baked into glass, trees were incinerated to cinders, and even bacteria and viruses in the dust-filled air met their doom. The Hoth Mountains, vibrant with life just ten minutes prior, had now become a complete wasteland. As for the ordinary people living in the Dragon Roar Kingdom—undoubtedly, it was likely that not a single soul had survived.

The moment Ovakain perceived this horrifying scene, he felt as if his very soul were being twisted and shattered by pain and rage:

“Ahhhhh, Cyan! Punk Cyan! I, Ovakain Acidmaw, swear—even if I must pursue you to the ends of time and space, even if it costs me everything, I will tear your flesh, chew your bones, burn your soul to ashes, and cast the ashes of your soul into the bottomless abyss! I will… I will… Wuwuwu… Wuwu… It’s over, all over………”

Facing the completely lifeless Hoth Mountains, large tears streamed from Ovakain’s eyes. Even when the Old Priest died, Ovakain hadn’t been so heartbroken and despairing as to weep. But now… confronted with the destruction of the Dragon Roar Kingdom, Ovakain cried, weeping like a helpless infant……..Helpless, even knowing that crying solved nothing, Ovakain still couldn’t stop tears from welling up in his enormous dragon eyes. Amid the volcanic eruption, the kingdom he had built over millennia—the kingdom carrying the Old Priest’s dreams, the kingdom inhabited by the half-dragon “kin” he genuinely acknowledged—had turned to ashes…

But Ovakain was truly Ovakain. Grief didn’t drown his reason, and pain didn’t make him abandon himself. On the already shattered crater, the still-weeping Ovakain mustered all his strength to flap his dragon wings and soar into the sky—tears represented sorrow, but not despair. Hatred could deepen memories but wouldn’t erode rationality. Ovakain hadn’t completely succumbed to this destruction. He knew now wasn’t the time for hatred and sorrow. Danger was still approaching, and facing the enemy who had already caught up… severely injured as he was, he could only choose to flee in disgrace.

Finally, casting one last grief-stricken glance at the distant ruins of the Dragon Roar Kingdom, Ovakain began flying south toward the Hoth Mountains at full speed. He would escape, heal his wounds, break through to the Legendary level, and then he could establish a second Dragon Roar Kingdom. Moreover, he could exact revenge on that Mage whose name was now etched into his very soul.

“Punk Cyan, my vow remains eternal. You… will pay for this!”

——————————————

When Punk saw Ovakain disperse the mist and reveal himself, he was almost stunned. According to his calculations, given the terrifying power of the Sleeping Dragon Volcano’s eruption, Ovakain should have been dead ten times over if he stayed at the crater. But now, not only was this black dragon not fallen, he even had the strength to wail loudly. How could such a completely “illogical” situation not shock Punk?

However, upon noticing the only intact necklace around Ovakain’s neck emitting a soft glow, Punk immediately understood the reason for Ovakain’s survival—Legendary Equipment!

“Damn it, is this guy endless? Are Master-Level Mages this troublesome nowadays? Possessing Legendary-level equipment at Master-Level is simply absurd!”

Punk quickly snapped out of his shock, but now he was utterly enraged. A murderous fury began whispering deeply in his eyes.

Truth be told, Punk never imagined that what seemed like an ordinary, sure-success mission would turn out like this. He never expected Ovakain to be this formidable. Layer after layer of hidden cards made Punk understand—for the first time—the agony his own enemies must have felt facing him.

“No, I can’t let him escape. No matter how troublesome, I must pursue. Otherwise, next time it’ll be me running for my life!”

With eyes growing colder, Punk didn’t hesitate further. Taking advantage of Ovakain’s weeping and cursing, he flew back toward the Sleeping Dragon Volcano at full speed. However, having expended too much mana resisting the elemental torrent earlier, Punk now only had enough magic left to barely maintain his protective spells and “Master Flight.” Closing in on the crater quickly was simply impossible.Thus, the frantic Punk could only watch helplessly as Ovakain spread his wings once more and began flying farther away—without Magic Acceleration, there was no doubt that the dragon’s speed was something Punk, as a half-elf, could never match.

“Ovakain! Do you think you can escape so easily? Run, then, run! Abandon your Kingdom and flee like a stray hound, but… your journey of escape has only just begun!”

The mocking words from Punk were as merciless as ever, yet… Ovakain paid no heed to Punk’s provocation. Even as rage gnawed at the black dragon’s soul like the fire elementals from before, Ovakain gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered, all while desperately pushing himself to fly faster.

With Ovakain fleeing without a backward glance and his last-ditch taunts proving futile, Punk had no choice but to reluctantly abandon the pursuit.

He understood all too well that mere words would not drive Ovakain to lose his reason, and given his own speed… it was likely impossible to catch up to the rapidly vanishing black dragon today.

But Punk was never one to give up easily. At the final moment, he decisively activated three Anywhere Doors solidified in his Mage Robe to close the distance. Then… as the magical light in his pupils spun wildly, he precisely unleashed a spell with all his might at Ovakain’s retreating figure, now nearly disappearing over the horizon.

“Master-Level Advent Magic—Soul Mark!”

Just as Punk had told Ovakain, this matter was far from over. A hunt had only just begun!

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(End of Chapter)